"Holy shit," Eva murmured. "Please tell me you seriously didn't do that."

"And what about him?" Zac asked. "What was his stake?"

The video began replaying in Alex's head, his father shoved aside by the guard, then a gun put at his head. An aching kind of sadness filled him and he wanted to turn away, but instead he found himself looking back at Katya. "His stake was a security tape," he said in a low voice. "Footage from the night Conrad raped me." Because it was rape; he'd always known that. He'd just never said it aloud with people who knew the truth before. "Conrad had put a security guard on the bathroom door so we wouldn't be interrupted. But the tape shows Dad ... arguing with the guard. He was trying to stop it."

"Christ," Gabriel said. "That motherfucker."

"That's not all." Alex made himself go on. "The tape also contains footage from the bathroom."

Katya's face was full of something he didn't quite recognize. She'd come forward to stand near the couch, her hands resting on the back of it. And he wanted everyone out of the room suddenly. Wanted to go to her and hold her.

But he couldn't. He had a feeling that if he touched her again he wouldn't let her go. And Mikhail Vasin could go get fucked.

"Oh, Alex," Eva said quietly. "Was he blackmailing you?"

Alex kept his gaze on Katya. "He threatened to put the tape online. I told him I didn't give a shit, that I had plenty of sex tapes out there." He stopped suddenly. It didn't seem right to explain that Conrad had then threatened to send it to Honor and his mother. And that he hadn't cared. That his revenge was more important to him than his mother and sister.

"Mr. South then threatened Mr. St. James by saying his mother and sister wouldn't like to see it," Katya said instead, taking up the thread of the story, her calm, cool voice stripping Conrad's blackmail of its emotional power. Taking away his own guilt. Making it just a series of facts strung together. "Mr. St. James didn't want that to happen."

"He threatened to send it to Honor?" Gabriel's voice was a low growl. "Jesus, he's fucking dead."

"As Mr. St. James said," Katya went on smoothly," Mr. South was on the point of winning when Elijah interrupted the game. He put a bullet through the laptop which contained the video."

Zac went still. Then he glanced at Alex. "He didn't want anyone to see?"

Alex took a long, silent breath. He'd almost forgotten about that in the middle of everything that had happened. "No, he didn't." He paused as realization broke over him. "There was no way he could have known about that footage. Unless he'd been watching us." He stared at Katya. "You were right about the cameras. That's the only way he could have known."

Katya nodded. "In which case, the real question is why was he watching?"

"And who was he watching for?" Eva echoed.

Gabriel shifted beside the fire, his leather jacket creaking. "You told me you suspected the invites to the game came from your father's friends? The Seven Devils?"

"Yeah. I'm pretty certain of it."

"So who invited Elijah?"

And that was probably the most important question of all. Alex glanced at his friend. "We need more investigation. We can't let this go."

"Damn fucking straight."

"We need to proceed carefully." Zac's voice was full of absolute authority. "If they've spotted the investigations Eva and I have been carrying out, if they know about the girl, then they know that we've uncovered the possibility of a trafficking ring. They won't let that go. And it will put Eva at risk."

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Eva got up in a sudden quick movement. "And if anyone puts Zac in harm's way then they'll have to answer to me."

Since she only just came up to Zac's shoulder, her statement seemed slightly ridiculous. She glowered at everyone. "Yeah, I know, right? It is ridiculous. I am not someone to be protected. I am the CEO of one of America's most successful software companies and I can look after my own fucking self." She flicked a glance in Zac's direction. "So back off, asshole. When I want your help, I'll ask for it."

Zac said nothing, but there was something in his amber eyes as he looked at Eva that went beyond mere irritation. Alex couldn't decipher it, but wherever the hell Zac's over-protective tendencies were coming from, they were going to interfere.

"Eva's right," Alex said. "She can take care of herself. And besides, we need her, Zac."

A muscle twitched in Zac's jaw. It was clear he was not happy with this development. "Very well," he said with obvious reluctance. "But as I said, we're going to have to proceed carefully if we don't want to draw their attention again."

Gabriel prowled over to the table and lifted the stopper on the decanter, splashing some scotch into a glass. "How many copies of that video are there?"

"Conrad said only one digital copy on the laptop and a hard copy," Alex answered. There was vodka on the table too, but he didn't feel the need of any. No, he wanted something else entirely. Pity he wasn't going to let himself have it. "But don't worry. I didn't take his word for it."

Gabriel knocked back the scotch, then put the tumbler back on the table with a click. "Seems this Elijah guy was pretty intent on destroying it. Which means we need to get our hands on it somehow."

"I would think that Elijah would have made Mr. South destroy any copies he had," Katya said, her unfamiliar voice once again making everyone look at her, clearly having forgotten she was there.

But Alex hadn't forgotten. "Good point." He shoved his hands in his pockets. "But I'm betting he wouldn't have destroyed all of them. He's bound to have kept some for ... insurance purposes."

"We need to see what's on that tape that Elijah, or whoever the hell is employing him, wants kept secret." Zac didn't touch any of the liquor on the table. Or the food. He began to pace again. "Especially since we've reached a dead end on virtually everything else."

Frustration slid through Alex. "Nothing on Dad's Seven Devils? Nothing at all?"

"No. My contacts didn't find anything on the rest of them. And Eva didn't find anything digitally either. Or at least they've hidden it well, if there is."

"What about the other players?" Surely Zac would have discovered something on them?

"There are some dodgy links. None of those people you were at the table with were clean. But there's nothing we can trace back to Conrad or any of the other Devils. Or the Lucky Seven. If there are tracks there, they've covered them completely."

"Fuck it," Gabriel said, and poured himself another scotch. "Then we definitely need that video."

"I can hack into South's computer," Eva offered. "In fact, he's got quite a network from what I saw. I didn't find anything the first time I looked, but then I wasn't looking for anything particular." The look on her delicate face sharpened. "If a copy of that video is there, I'll find it."

"Be careful, angel," Zac cautioned as if he couldn't help himself.

Eva rolled her eyes. "I'm always careful."

Alex stared at the two of them. They didn't have to do this. Neither Eva nor Zac was personally invested in his family's secrets and if this proved as dangerous as he suspected it was going to be-"You can walk away," he said suddenly. "Zac. Eva. This is my family's business. You guys don't have to involve yourselves." He didn't need to include Gabriel. He was already involved. And besides, Alex knew what Gabriel would have told him to do with his caution.

"Are you kidding me?" Eva shot back. "Sure, it's your family, Alex. But that makes it our family too. I thought the whole point of the Nine Circles was that we stuck together because we had no one else." She gave him a sharp look. "Or am I wrong?"

These people were his friends and friends supported one another. Why did he keep forgetting that? "You're not wrong. But I came back to protect you all. I don't want to drag you back into something you don't want."

Eva shrugged. "Too bad. You've already dragged us. And hey, it's not like we're without resources, right?"

"I guess."

"Good. So. What information have we got so far?"

The discussion moved on and the atmosphere of tension that had been in the room at the start of the meeting dissipated.

As the other three fell into a discussion about the other players, Alex went over to where Katya still stood, waiting silently. "Why are you here?" he asked. "Did you need something?"

She stepped back from the couch, her hands once more behind her back. "Yes. I wanted to inform you that the operation to rescue Mikhail was successful. I just got the word. They're organizing a video call because he wanted to speak to me ASAP."

The disappointment was bitter, but Alex ignored the feeling. It was good Vasin had gotten out. Good that the first thing he wanted to do was speak to the woman who'd made him such important promises. "That's great news," Alex said, trying to make it sound like he was actually pleased and not wanting to hit something. "So I guess you'll be heading back to Moscow soon."

Her gaze flickered away from his. "I managed to get a flight tomorrow morning. I ... hope that's okay. I know it's not enough notice but..."

"It'll be fine. I'm going to need to rethink my security anyway if we continue investigating Conrad."

Katya kept her attention on the couch in front of her. "Will you ... keep me informed? Having gone with you to Monte Carlo, I'm quite interested to know where your investigations lead. And if you need any help..." Only then did she look at him. "Any help at all, please don't hesitate to ask."

If there was something more there, an underlying meaning to her words, he didn't see it. And for a second he couldn't speak because he wanted so much for there to be something. Anything. Instead he put his gambler's mask on, betraying nothing of the need clawing up inside him. "Of course. I'll let you know." He gave her an empty smile. "Now, if you don't mind, it's probably better that you leave. Nine Circles business, Katya mine."

Except she wasn't his. And she never would be.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

Katya sat down in the lounge of Alex's apartment and adjusted the laptop once again, making sure the camera was pointed at herself and the microphone was working. The call from the people who'd gotten Mikhail out would be happening at any moment.

Alex was still in the special room downstairs in the Second Circle with the rest of his friends. They'd been in there hours now. It had been stupid to walk in on them earlier, but when she'd gotten the call that Mikhail was safe she hadn't been able to stop herself from wanting to go and at least offer her personal thanks to Alex and to Mr. Rutherford.

She hadn't expected to stumble in on Alex giving a full-blown confession. She'd been all set to leave the moment Mr. Rutherford had challenged her. Except then Alex had told her to stay. And he'd looked at her the whole time as he told her his story.

He hadn't looked away from her, his blue eyes pinning her to the spot, holding her completely still. And she knew how hard it was for him. Knew what he'd had to go through to get to this point- There was a chiming sound from the computer.

Katya swallowed. God, here she was, waiting to speak to the man she'd promised herself to, whom she hadn't seen for two years, and all she could think about was Alex St. James.

She leaned forward, hitting a button on the keyboard, and the video call window popped up. The video was choppy and grainy, but she could quite clearly see the man in the middle of it anyway. He was sitting on a chair with a table in front of him where the camera must be situated. The room behind him was bare, the walls concrete blocks.

"Misha?" Katya leaned forward, her throat constricting.

The man at the table was very different. The Mikhail she remembered was blond and good-looking. Always smiling. But the man on the screen was not him. This man was gaunt, his cheeks hollow, his eyes empty. The blond hair she remembered had been shaved close to his skull and he was covered in bruises. He looked like he'd been through hell.

No, he looked like he was still there.

"Katya," he said, and she barely recognized his voice. He sounded like he had a mouthful of gravel.

Her eyes filled with unexpected tears. "Oh my God. It is you. You're alive," she said, falling into Russian easily. "We thought you were dead. When you disappeared, the government wanted to-"

"I don't want you coming back for me."

The words were flat, expressionless. Just like the look on his face.

She blinked. "But, I-"

"Thank you for organizing this rescue and you can pass my thanks on to Mr. Rutherford too. Don't think I'm not grateful, but..." He stopped and something like pain crossed his face. "I've been gone a long time. Things have happened. And I'm ... different now." He looked away from the camera for a moment; then he glanced back, looking directly at her. "You made me some promises, Katya. And I haven't forgotten them. But I can't accept what you promised anymore. I'm sorry."

Shock moved like an icy wind over her skin. "But I ... I swore I wouldn't leave you there and I didn't. I waited for you, Misha. And I want to come back and see you. I want-"

"Katya," he interrupted softly, leaning forward so his face was near the camera. And she could see more bruises marring the handsome lines of his face. Scar tissue pulling at his mouth. And his eyes ... God, they were full of darkness. Like Elijah's. "You shouldn't have waited for me. And I don't want you to now. Things are different."

"If you're worried about my father, I can talk to him. It'll be okay."

"No. It won't be okay. Nothing will ever be okay." He turned his head away again, looking at something or someone off camera. "Don't come back for me. Please."

"Misha ... I can't just leave you-" She stopped abruptly as Mikhail leaned forward and the video screen went black.

He'd cut her off.

Katya stood up, grief catching in her throat, aching in her chest. What had they done to him? God, they must have hurt him so badly. She wanted to call back straightaway, but she knew that wasn't a good idea. Mikhail had only just been rescued and he'd been traumatized obviously. He needed some time to rest and gather his strength. Some time to recover from his ordeal.

He couldn't seriously mean for her not to come back for him, could he?

She skirted the coffee table, paced to the windows and their view over the New York skyscrapers. It was snowing again, soft, fat white flakes drifting noiselessly against the glass.

Two years she'd waited for him. Two years she'd been loyal. She'd left her father and her country, losing her faith in both because of him. And she knew it was unfair, knew it was selfish, but it hurt that the first thing he'd said to her after being rescueda rescue that she'd organizedwas not to come back.

Another person who doesn't want to be saved ...

The thought came as softly as the snow, an icy blanket settling over her mind.

Katya closed her eyes. But it wasn't the broken shell of the man she'd promised herself to that she saw. It was Alex's blue eyes as he'd talked about his father on that videotape. And the empty smile as he'd told her to leave the room.

But what was the point thinking about him? He didn't need her. And Mikhail did, regardless of whether he'd told her to stay away or not. She'd waited for two years for him and she couldn't abandon him now, no matter what he said.

Coward.

But she didn't take any notice of that whisper. She had to be strong for Mikhail because he still needed saving and that was all that mattered.

It was the only thing that did.

Alex sat on the couch in the Nine Circles room and looked at the vodka bottle. It was tempting to take it, pour himself a large tumblerful. But as he'd already decided, it wasn't vodka he wanted.

He sighed and leaned against the back of the couch.

The others had all gone now, the fire burned down. The meeting had gone on far longer than they'd planned, talking about what their next move would be, where they went from here.

Eva was going to try hacking into Conrad's network, while Zac continued his investigationsalbeit much more carefullyof the Apocalypse players. Gabriel had taken on the task of looking into the businesses of the remaining Seven Devilsall except Conrad. Alex had demanded that Conrad be left to him and Gabriel hadn't argued. No one had. They all knew that Conrad was Alex's to deal with.

Zac had made it clear he had contacts who could come in handy if Alex wanted to use them. Special contacts for "special" jobs. He knew what that meant. Assassins. Thing was, he wasn't sure he wanted someone else to take Conrad out. In fact, he wasn't sure he wanted Conrad taken out at all.

After Katya had held him, it seemed pointless now.

Nineteen years of pretending the man didn't matter, and it was only now, after Katya, that Alex realized he truly didn't. That the only power the man had was the power Alex chose to give him. And by choosing not to exact revenge, he was denying Conrad that power.